All it takes is a snowstorm to strand hundreds of motorists on a 50-mile stretch of Interstate 78 for up to 24 hours and cause an “almost total breakdown in communication” among state agencies, according to Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell (which, I’ll note, is not actually an explanation). Keep in mind, the Interstate system is supposed to be a priority transportation system, especially in times of war, and I-78 is refereed to as a “strategic” corridor for the tri-state area on a number of official sites (it’s designated “High-Priority Corridor 63”). In fact, it’s part of the emergency evacuation route for New York City. Seems like the kind of road you’d want to keep open. Plus, didn’t we throw a whole lot of money at this “communication among state agencies” problem after 2001?